'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The FIFA freaks have already got their share of the pie but the real football geeks with their mind-numbing routines and beer-chips number crunching madness are waiting keenly with Sports Interactive's Football Manager franchise returning with their latest iteration available at 25% off if pre-ordered from Steam till October 9th.
The game's beta will become available later this month and potential managers will have already begun scouting their targets and chalking up devices to take Basingstoke Town FC on expanded databases till the Champions League or maybe become a true journeyman ala Quique Sanchez Flores.
For those of you who have not decided which club to look at here are some pre-game options you should consider.
Special mentions to Sunderland, Spurs, Barcelona and Hoffenheim.
#10 Chippenham Town FC
For all of those players who believe that game should be more difficult than it already is, we have Chippenham Town FC, at the very bottom of National League South, qualifying to the highest league ever in their history via a Southern Premier League win last season. This is a traditionalist's challenge 'Road to Glory'. Can you take them to the Premier League? And maybe win it?
For those who fancy a long haul, there ain't many tougher saves out there.
#9 Forest Green Rovers
As if one Road to Glory was not enough (it never is enough, is it?), we move a little higher up the pyramid to the base of Professional League football in England to Forest Green Rovers, once more a newly-promoted side waiting to move up the ladder.
Only this club has been in the headlines forever, being the only vegan football club in England. They take their environmentalism very seriously, could you sneak in a chicken sandwich and hope they forgive you because you took them to the top of Europe's elite? (doubt they'd give let you stay on if they found the chicken) but anyway...
#8 CD Leganes
The Madrid-based minnows were promoted to the La Liga for the first time in their history last season. They surprised people and managed to stay up. But the second season is always a challenge. Can you anchor the Leganes ship and have them push on to greater heights? It's no mean feat if you could at least reach them to the summit of their city if not Spain (you'd be there anyway if you become successful enough to be the Madrid top-dog).
#7 Dynamo Dresden
Dresden was one of the most popular Eastern German clubs winning 8 league titles in the divided league. Following relegation in 1995 from the unified Bundesliga, Dynamo took a nosedive and have been inconsistent and losing most of their old-time prowess. The challenge is to restore the giants of East German football to the top of the unified pyramid taking them from their place currently in the 2.Bundesliga where they are competing with teams more successful in their recent history.
#6 Parma
There is a certain thrill in reviving fallen giants. Parma are now in Serie B, one promotion away from the big league. Of course, this technically isn't the same club that produced some of Italy's finest in the 1990s, being a Rangers-like situation where the club had to be reformed after their relegation in 2014-15. Can you take the club back to the top of Italy? Or will Parma's glory remain in the past?
#5 Aberdeen
I know most people proposing Scotland saves think it's a great idea to restore Scotland's most successful club Rangers to winning ways (it's not a bad idea) with Celtic needing to double their six consecutive league titles to even equal Rangers, but Aberdeen have been the club most formidable in Scotland on current performances apart from Celtic. It can be interesting to see whether the squad meticulously assembled by Derek McIness could blossom into something special under you- going by Celtic's form this season. In reality, it's going to be an uphill climb.
Some challenge to beat just one team huh? You bet!
#4 AC Milan
Another popular giant from Italy. This time with Chinese investment. A Milan save always promises much. Juventus don't look like their falling by anytime soon and Roma are cementing themselves, while clubs like Atlanta have risen in the last couple of seasons. AC Milan have recruited ambitiously, the challenge lies in realising their ambitions. They are waiting for you to make them win.
#3 Everton
You know they say the English Premier League is one of the most competitive leagues in the world? Yeah, it's a bit pear-shaped. Interestingly enough, Everton are currently where it begins to pear up, true to their reputation in recent years. The Top 6 are the narrow top, Everton make up the curved spot and the rest fill up the base.
This isn't a statement on conjecture but on the fact that Everton finished eight points off sixth and fifteen points over eighth. That is a statement by itself. The money is there, although coming with it is a Lukaku sized hole up-front. Koeman has been miserable in reality but you could be the man to finally aid the Toffees to take that next step.
#2 Paris Saint Germain
Come on aren't you excited to see where this insanely expensive team will finish in the Champions League. Will they reclaim the league and win as many trophies they compete for or will they fall in the final hurdles? Even if you don't spend for the next three transfer windows signing only frees, PSG have enough to near the top in France comfortably.
The challenge is transferring that dominance to Europe. For all those chequebook wielding masterminds- how will you beat the biggest? Will you pay them off the pitch or will you pay them off the pitch? (Interestingly enough, both are genuine possibilities!)
#1 Arsenal
Here's something anti-climatic after the array of interesting clubs. Since everyone seems to know how to manage Arsenal better than Arsene Wenger, I'd recommend that you give your ideas to flip Arsenal's fortunes around to the bright side once more. They have a substantial budget nowadays and a goal-scoring striker, one of the top-rated right-backs and a healthy youth system. Maybe you'd find the winning formula or maybe you'd realize ol' Arsene ain't too bad after all!
